Top 10 Financial Fraud Dramas

Description: This iconic film introduces us to Gordon Gekko, a corporate raider whose mantra is "Greed is good." It's a timeless exploration of the ethics of Wall Street.

Fact: Michael Douglas won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Gekko, and the character has become synonymous with financial greed.

Description: A young college dropout gets involved in a shady brokerage firm, learning the art of the pump-and-dump scheme. It's a cautionary tale about the allure and dangers of quick money.

Fact: The film features a cameo by Ben Affleck, who plays a sleazy stockbroker, and it was inspired by the real-life Stratton Oakmont firm.

Description: This film dives into the wild world of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who engages in rampant corruption and fraud on Wall Street. It's a rollercoaster of excess, making it a quintessential pick for this list.

Fact: The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as Belfort was widely acclaimed.

Description: A documentary that unravels the Enron scandal, one of the most infamous financial frauds in history. It's a compelling look at corporate corruption and the human cost of greed.

Fact: The film features interviews with key players and uses Enron's own internal videos to tell the story, providing a chilling insight into the company's culture.

Description: Based on the true story of Mark Whitacre, an executive who turns whistleblower in a price-fixing scandal at Archer Daniels Midland. It's a quirky, dark comedy-drama.

Fact: The film's score was composed by Marvin Hamlisch, and it features a unique blend of comedy and drama, making it stand out in the genre.

Description: Based on the true story of the 2007-2008 financial crisis, this film follows several investors who bet against the housing market, predicting its collapse. It's both educational and entertaining, making complex financial concepts accessible.

Fact: The film features celebrity cameos explaining financial terms, including Margot Robbie in a bubble bath and Anthony Bourdain discussing collateralized debt obligations.

Description: Set over a 24-hour period, this film captures the early stages of the financial crisis, showing the inner workings of a Wall Street investment bank as it faces potential collapse. It's a tense, character-driven drama.

Fact: The film was shot in just 17 days, and the screenplay was inspired by real events at Lehman Brothers.

Description: This film follows two cousins who hatch a plan to build a fiber-optic cable line between Kansas and New Jersey to gain a millisecond advantage in trading. It's a modern tale of ambition and the lengths people will go for financial gain.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life high-frequency trading, and the project depicted in the movie is based on a real attempt to lay a similar cable line.

Description: Based on the true story of Nick Leeson, whose unauthorized speculative trading caused the collapse of Barings Bank. It's a gripping tale of ambition, greed, and downfall.

Fact: Ewan McGregor plays Leeson, and the film was shot in locations where the real events took place, including Singapore and London.

Description: This Australian film explores the world of high finance through a mathematician who discovers a formula that could predict the stock market, leading to a battle with a powerful bank.

Fact: The film was shot in Sydney, and its plot was inspired by the real-life story of Nick Leeson, whose rogue trading caused the collapse of Barings Bank.